The UK’s Health Secretary Sajid Javid’s plan to ban smoking outside pubs and clubs has been slapped down by ministers, who said that the move would be detrimental to pubs whose business has already been crippled by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Known as a pavement ban, the proposed measure would have outlawed smoking directly outside venues such as pubs and restaurants.
New Communities Secretary Michael Gove said that the local authorities would never be able to keep up and enforce the ban. While ministers said that the measure would also be a financial blow to the concerned establishments.
Meanwhile a government source said that the measure will not be passed, adding that taking away freedom and putting “more red tape on business” is a bad idea. Simon Clark, director of smokers’ group Forest added that further restrictions is exactly what the entertainment industry does not need more of.
Diane Caruana – VapingPost – 2022-07-12